“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” – Jesus

The past two weeks have been an interesting time for Evangelical Christians.

On Jan. 19, Franklin Graham was on Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk.

Graham said several offensive, bigoted things, but this is crucial:

“What happens is we think we can fight by smiling and being real nice and loving. … We have to understand who the enemy is and what he wants — he wants to devour our homes. He wants to devour this nation. … We have to be so careful who we let our kids hang out with. … We have to be so careful who we let into the churches. You have immoral people that get into the churches and it begins to affect the others in the church and it is dangerous.”

In case you missed it:

“We have to be so careful who we let into the churches.”

If you’re in a church without immoral people, you’re in a church of hypocrites.

If your church isn’t for every immoral, hurting, broken person who comes in the door, then you don’t understand the purpose of a church.

Wonder how Jesus would respond to Graham?

We don’t have to wonder.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” (Matt. 23: 13)

Earlier this week, multi-millionaire Jerry Falwell Jr., the president of Liberty University, endorsed a multi-billionaire for president of the United States.

LYNCHBURG, VA – JANUARY 18: Liberty University President Jerry Falwell, Jr. (R) presents Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump with a sports jersey after he delivered the convocation in the university’s Vines Center January 18. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Before his current annual salary of more than $803,000, Falwell made millions developing real estate in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Of his endorsement of a fellow developer, Falwell explained in the Washington Post:

At this stage in our history, I believe we need an experienced and successful businessman who has fixed broken companies — because I saw firsthand as a young lawyer the tough measures that were required to save Liberty University.

Evidently he’s unaware that his businessman candidate has bankrupted and walked away from multiple companies while defaulting on personally guaranteed loans. Absolutely legal, proclaims the candidate. Ethically abhorrent, respond many others. But not the president of the largest Christian college in the United States.

Falwell went on to write in the Washington Post:

Finally, it was not my intent to compare Trump to Jesus Christ in my introduction at Liberty. I know that all of us are sinners, and only Jesus was perfect.

I do believe Trump is a good father, is generous to those in need, and is an ethical and honest businessman. I have gotten to know him well over the last few years and have come to admire him for those traits.

I do not believe, however, that when Jesus said “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” that he meant we should elect only someone who would make a good Sunday School teacher or pastor. When we step into our role as citizens, we need to elect the most experienced and capable leaders.

As I said, Jimmy Carter is a great Sunday School teacher but the divorced and remarried Hollywood actor Ronald Reagan saved this nation when it was in nearly the same condition as it is today.

Jesus said “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” Let’s stop trying to choose the political leaders who we believe are the most godly because, in reality, only God knows people’s hearts. You and I don’t, and we are all sinners.

Reagan was a Democrat union president before he was a Republican governor. Falwell’s candidate is a political neophyte and a bigot. The reality is, he’s also a pretty bad businessman:

Both men inherited from their fathers the family business of Christianity Inc. Trump inherited $40 million from his father.

Falwell is right, Only God knows people’s hearts. The rest of us have to assess people based on the results of what they do, the effects of God working in their lives. Or as Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians:

4 Responses to Beware of false prophets

Thank you for publishing this. I have been distraught with how Christians are being represented by the Tea Party and the Franklin Grahams (nothing like his father, Billy) of the world. I have been Christian for as long as I can remember. Once, I was listening to my husband preach a sermon and two elderly ladies were sitting in front of me and were, I’m certain, unaware that my husband was the preacher. They began to tear apart his sermon, comment on his weight, etc. After church, I told my husband that I was never setting foot in that church again and told him about the women I sat behind. He laughed at me and said “Honey, church is for the sinners; not the saints. If you wait until we find a church with no sinners, you will have found a church that is doing nothing of God’s work.” I stood corrected in my thinking. Christ refused no one. I love the scripture you quoted to support your views. Keep up the good work.

This is simply not talked about enough. The American evangelical church has simply failed. It may be filled with people and bloated with cash but it is little more than a sounding brass and tinkling cymbal. It doesn’t take long to find the cause. Or for that matter, poor leaders that love it this way. I think it is time for a second reformation.

Thanks,
“sounding brass and tinkling cymbal”
is what I’ve been thinking about, for a while.
I write about this often, because I feel they distract and overshadow the true beneficial message of Jesus.
Thanks again,

Interesting views . Many say they are Christian , followers of Jesus . His Life was good and love was true . Those who love Him will follow in His steps and will know what He taught that was From The Father . Also what is not from The Father . How many really know what he is trying to teach even now .